Chapter 1 The Language of Leadership

1. Chapter 1 The Language of Leadership HPR 323

2. Leadership • The essence of leadership involves inspiring a vision, enabling others to act, modeling desired ways of behaving, and recognizing and celebrating the contributions that individuals make. • Leaders keep hope alive • Hope is an attitude in action

3. Leisure: What is it? • No universal accepted definition • Often defined as: • Block of time • A state of mind • An activity

4. Recreation: What is it? • An activity engaged in voluntarily that is satisfying to the individual • Many definitions suggest that recreation has socially redeeming qualities • Also viewed as a way of restoring or refreshing as a balance to work

5. Types of Leaders in our Profession • Playground, coach, leisure counselor, activity instructor, therapist, Boy Scout Leader, outreach worker, guide, outdoor specialist, etc • Roles - Serve as facilitators, teachers, moderators, encouragers, motivators

6. Attributes of a leader • A belief in oneself (confidence) and a decent doubt • A passion for the job and an awareness of other worlds (broad perspective) • A love of people and a capacity for aloneness • A vision (forward thinking)

7. What do leaders do? • Building camaraderie and cohesiveness • Identifying and defining goals • Developing methods and procedures to achieve goals • Organizing the work of others • Motivating others

8. What do leaders do? • Evaluating the work of others • Representing the group • Developing group members • Establishing the group atmosphere • Promoting the ideals of the profession

9. Ways to assume the role • Appointment • Election • Emergence • Charisma

10. What is leadership? • A process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal • Encourage the best in others • Inspire others • Create hope • Encourage others to accomplish challenging tasks • Leaders create meaning for others

11. Leadership Influence and Empowerment • Influence is the process of persuasion – how a leader impacts or affects the behavior of others • Can be done through personality, position or ability to influence • Process of influence without coercion

12. Influence of persuasion comes from “power resources” • Ideas, rational discourse, one’s reputation, prestige, personality, purpose, status, content of message, interpersonal and group skills, give-and-take behaviors, authority or lack of authority, symbolic interaction, perception, motivation, gender, race, religion, choices, etc • Leadership is multidirectional and non-coercive

13. Leadership Empowerment • Empowerment involves sharing or giving power or influence to another • Thus, enabling them to have influence • In leisure individuals want to have some control over how the leisure experience unfolds • Giving people the power and freedom to make decisions, take risks, and generate their own pathway • Creates satisfaction, motivation, fulfillment

14. Empowerment gives individuals the freedom to express views • Allows them to make decisions • Unleashes creativity • Allows them to become a “part” of the organizational goals and success

15. Leadership and Power • Legitimate or formal power (by position) • Reward power • Coercive power • Referent power • Expert power

16. Leaders and Followers • What are leaders without followers? • Why do people follow? • Efficiency – Many do not want the responsibility – view delegation of leadership as efficient mean of accomplishing group goals • Satisfaction – If things are going smoothly people are content • Experience – those who have led will lead again – followers will typically follow again – comfort zone

17. Leadership and the Leisure Experience • Shared Expectations – Leader and group must have similar expectations – performance must match expectations • Trust – confidence in abilities and intentions • Effective Communication – active listening and feedback • Shared decision making- instills control and freedom for the group during the leisure experience

18. Leadership and the Leisure Experience • Cooperation – give and take between leader and group • Sense of risk and spontaneity –creates illusion of freedom – sense of risk or unpredictability • Positive reinforcement – on the part of leader and group – builds camaraderie and cohesiveness • Social and emotional bond – Leader’s interest in group members and how it is expressed

19. Goals of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Most behavior is goal-directed – need, want, interest – is it pleasurable or worthwhile? • Exploration – testing new ideas, new involvement, new experiences • Self-discovery – explore one’s feelings, values, and ideas • Creativity – making an original or unique contribution

20. Mental health – relaxation, well-being, being refreshed, stress reduction • Social relations – traditionally been primary goal of leisure service organizations – interact, develop social skills, reduce isolation • Intellectual growth – new skills, new knowledge • Physical fitness

21. Goals of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services • A sense of self determination and independence – hiking, backpacking, canoeing, field trips, scuba diving • Wise use of leisure – worthy, productive, socially accepted • Promoting family unity – strengthen families by encouraging family participation

22. Goals of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services • Enjoyment of life • Concern for the environment – understand, value and appreciate ecological system • Promoting cooperation – create opportunities to work and play together • Learning about others and other cultures – broadens horizons and perspectives on life • Citizenship – instill knowledge and pride